BLUES have insisted that all is not lost after they crashed out of the automatic promotion places.

BLUES have insisted that all is not lost after they crashed out of the automatic promotion places.

Today's trip to Barnsley has taken on huge significance in the wake of the 1-0 home defeat to Burnley.

Martin Taylor, whose error presented the Clarets with their 80th-minute decider, said Blues were in familiar territory and could sustain their Championship title challenge.

"We have found ourselves in this kind of position a lot since Christmas," said the centre-half. "And in many respects, we probably perform better when we know we have to win a game to get back in there, rather than to go three points clear or whatever.

"We have really struggled with that. When we've had a chance, we've not taken it, but when we've been slightly behind we've caught back up again. So hopefully that will happen again.

"I still think there's going to be a lot of toing and froing before the end of the season, so we have to make sure that we don't let this affect us - and I'm sure we won't."

Taylor admitted that he felt awful after dropping the huge clanger that gifted Burnley their St Andrew's win.

He had a fine game otherwise, but that was of little consolation after John Spicer took the ball from him 30 yards out and went clear.

"I just apologised to everyone afterwards," admitted Taylor, who said he would continue to try to play his way out of trouble, but be more careful in future.

"We all work hard for 90 minutes and I'm really disappointed that the goal came from my error.

"I've just got to hold my hands up and say it was my fault. As a defender one of the main things you must do is concentrate for the whole game, and unfortunately I didn't do that.

"In hindsight, the ball should have gone back to the goalkeeper. There was no need to do what I did.

"I kind of lost my bearings a bit and didn't know their player was there. I thought they were playing with just the one up front and I didn't think there would be any pressure on the ball. I just wanted to get the ball forward quickly, so I took a touch rather than pass it back to the goalkeeper.

"It was the wrong thing to do. He anticipated it. Sometimes, if you are in trouble you need to play to get out of it, but in this case I wasn't in any trouble. It was a bad mistake.

"I have to put it down to a lack of concentration. You just want the pitch to swallow you up. There's nothing else you can do.

"It was my mistake but all we can do is now is kick on, learn from it and just put it behind me for today, if I'm chosen."

Blues remain three points behind leaders Derby County, but Sunderland have now leapfrogged them into second place with a two-point advantage.

Blues still have a game in hand and a better goal difference compared to the Rams.

Manager Steve Bruce stressed: "It's absolutely wide open, of course it is, with five or six games still to play.

"A result to go top of the league would have been fantastic but, with a game in hand, we've still got a very good chance."